S5 — Simple Standards-Based Slide Show System

Eric Meyer’s S5 (Simple Standards-Based Slide Show System) is a slide show format designed for the creation and display of simple web-based presentations that can be viewed on virtually any browser. The format is based entirely on XHTML, CSS, and JavaScript, which all use a simple, semantic, and completely accessible markup language.

Accessibility Barriers

Components of a S5 presentation such as titles, sub-titles, and images may be inaccessible to screen reader users unless information about each component is embedded in the presentation.

Titles and sub-titles created by simply centering, adding bold text, and increasing the font size of the text will not be not accessible to screen reader users.

A full understanding of an S5 presentation may be diminished if accompanying "handout" materials are not accessible.

The identification, description, or conveying of information conveyed by an image will be inaccessible to screen reader users when alternative text is not included.

The grouping or conveying of information through the use of color alone may be difficult or impossible to access for individuals who are color-blind, screen-reader users, individuals with low-vision, and users of devices that do not support the displaying of color.

The readability of text against a background may vary greatly when the page is viewed at different color depths, screen resolutions, or other display color combinations.

Detailed or "busy" page backgrounds or watermarks may make it difficult or impossible for users to discern overlying text, particularly users with low vision.

Screen reader users and some users of screen magnification applications will not be able to access information presented as a graphical background or wallpaper.

Best Practices

Structure

Use the simple format template provided by S5 to maintain appropriate structural elements such as headers, body, and footers.

If applicable, provide an accessible version of content contained within the handouts section.

Images

Insert images, charts, and other objects using proper XHTML markup.

Include alternative text for all images.

Include extended descriptions for charts and complex images intended to convey information.

Content

Use sans-serif fonts.

Use appropriate punctuation at the end of each bullet point.

Use a color scheme that presents a sharp contrast between text and background.